On the eve of the upcoming Premier League first-round match away to Ipswich at 19:30 BST on Saturday night, Liverpool captain Van Dyke was interviewed by ESPN, sharing his expectations for the new season and what it's like to work with the team's new manager, Sloter.
Initial feelings about working with Slaughter
Van Dyke had positive things to say about working with Slotter: "So far, so good. Although this is my second week back with the team, I have watched a number of the team's matches and training sessions while I was in the US. The team has shown good form and potential, giving a sense of hope. Of course, the work is still ongoing and there are still many details that need to be further refined, but overall, I am satisfied with the cooperation so far and we are moving in the right direction."
Lessons learned from last season
Speaking about last season's loss, Van Dyke appeared both sincere and profound: "Last season's experience was a valuable lesson for each of us. There were a lot of factors that influenced the final result, but I think the main thing we need to learn is how to maintain a more consistent performance and how to deal with pressure and injuries better. The other two teams did play much better, they handled the key moments better and that's really something we need to reflect on and improve upon."
"We can't simply blame the problem on a specific incident, but rather we need to take a holistic look at the whole season's performance. Everyone needs to reflect on their shortcomings from last season and approach the new season with a more mature and determined mindset. Our goal is to stay the course until the last day, give our all for every race and strive for the best results in every event we participate in."
What to expect in the new Champions League season
Van Dyke was excited about the prospect of playing in the Champions League again: "We missed a lot of chances last year, which is a real pity for ourselves. The year before that we didn't get back on form until after March, and although we came close to qualifying for the Champions League, we couldn't do it. It means a lot to all of us to be back in the Champions League this year. I'm really looking forward to representing the team in the Champions League again and hope to show our strengths on this stage and strive for better results."
"We know how difficult it is to win Champions League matches, but we will give it our all and prepare well for every game. We are eager to play great games in the Champions League, enjoy the joy of soccer and win as many as possible."
Van Dyke's speech shows the firm confidence and positive attitude of the whole Liverpool team for the new season. Under the leadership of Sloter, Liverpool is moving towards a higher goal, looking forward to proving their strength again in the Premier League and Champions League.
